The 2022 season wasn’t a bad one for the University of West Georgia, but it just so happens that the Wolves reside in a conference with some other very talented teams, including West Florida and Delta State. Those two teams shared the conference title last season, each going 6-1 in conference play, while West Georgia was 5-2. 

West Georgia finished the year at 8-2 overall, but due to the strength of the conference, the Wolves fell short of a return to the Division II Playoffs.

In five complete seasons under David Dean, West Georgia has won eight or more games four times. He is 42-16 since taking over in 2017, and he's be back in 2023. 

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In 2023, the Gulf South Conference includes nine teams (up from eight) and returns three that finished with winning records in 2022 – the previously mentioned West Florida, Delta State and West Georgia.

West Florida finished 2022 with a 12-2 overall record, and Delta State was 11-2. West Florida made the NCAA Division II semifinals, losing to eventual national champion Ferris State.

Gulf South football action will be streamed live on FloFootball and the FloSports app, including all of West Georgia’s Gulf South games.

Here’s What To Know About The University Of West Georgia Football:

What Year Did West Georgia Start Playing Football?

The first year of NCAA-level football at the University of West Georgia was 1981, and the Wolves played at the Division III level. 

Until 2006, the school’s teams were known as the Braves, but a directive from the NCAA about teams being associated with Native Americans/Native American culture necessitated a name change to the Wolves.

It didn’t take long for West Georgia to get its footing on the gridiron, as the Wolves were able to claim the Division III national championship in their second year of play (1982).

Including their 14-0 win over Augustana in the title game, the Wolves were 12-0 in 1982, which followed a 9-1 inaugural season.

After winning the Division III title, West Georgia jumped ranks and began playing at the Division II level in 1983. It didn’t go as well, and the Wolves posted a 4-6 record.

All-time, the West Georgia football team has won more than 225 football games. 

In What Division Of College Football Does West Georgia Play? 

Since 1983, its third year as part of the NCAA for football, West Georgia has played at the Division II level.

How Many Times Has West Georgia Football Made It To The Playoffs?

Including their hot start in Division III, the West Georgia football team has been to the playoffs 11 times. Nine of those appearances have come at the Division II level, with the most recent happening in 2021.

Their years in the postseason were 1981 (Division III), 1982 (Division III), 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2014 (first Division II playoff win), 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2021. Their overall playoff record since joining the NCAA is 10-10. 

The first playoff game in school history (1981) resulted in a 10-3 loss to eventual national champion Widener. The following year went much better, as West Georgia defeated Widener, Bishop and Augustana (Illinois) to win it all for the first time.

Since moving to Division II, the Wolves' best finishes came in 2014 and 2015, when they advanced to the national semifinals. 

In October 2022, the 1982 national championship team was inducted into the UWG Athletics Hall of Fame.

When Did UWG Football Join The Gulf South Conference?

The University of West Georgia joined the Gulf South Conference in 1983, the team’s first year playing at the Division II level.

Has West Georgia Football Ever Won The Gulf South Title?

Yes, West Georgia has found success in the Gulf South Conference, winning the football title four times – 1997 (shared with Southern Arkansas), 1998 (shared with Delta State), 2000 (shared with Delta State and Valdosta State) and 2015 (shared with North Alabama).

Who Is The West Georgia Football Head Coach?

In 2017, David Dean was hired as the head football coach at the University of West Georgia, and has rocketed up the school’s all-time wins list. 

Dean has won eight or more games in four of his five seasons and has compiled a 42-16 record. Charlie Fisher (1993-1997) is next on the team’s all-time wins list with 36.

From 1992-1999, Dean was a member of the West Georgia coaching staff and had the opportunity to be a part of the team’s first Division II playoff appearance and the school’s first two Gulf South football titles. 

Dean left West Georgia for Valdosta State, where he spent seven seasons as the offensive coordinator. He worked there previously from 1988 until he went to UWG for the first time. He helped Valdosta State to the 2004 NCAA Division II national championship. 

In 2007, Dean became the head coach at Valdosta State and led his team to a second national title. They won again in 2012. His overall record there was 79-27.

Dean was the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Year after both national titles.

Between Valdosta State and West Georgia, Dean has compiled a 121-43 record and is closing in on becoming the winningest coach in Gulf South history. Bobby Wallace won 152 games between North Alabama and West Alabama, and John M. Williams owns 122 wins at Mississippi College. 

As a player, Dean was a wide receiver at Georgia Tech.

Who Is West Georgia Football’s Biggest Rival? 

Coincidentally, the University of West Georgia has a longtime football rivalry with in-state foe Valdosta State, known as the Battle for the Peach Basket. They have played 42 times, which coincides with West Georgia’s entrance into the Gulf South Conference in 1983.

Since 1985, the game has alternated between the two campuses. Valdosta State leads the series 28-14, which includes winning their first nine meetings and winning at least four consecutive games three additional times. 

Also among the 42 meetings are playoff games in 2014, 2015 and 2021. West Georgia won the first two, and Valdosta State won the most recent.

Heading into their 2022 battle, Valdosta State had won four consecutive games, but the Wolves ended that streak with a 54-17 walloping of their opponents in October. 

The trophy on the line each year is a decorated authentic peach basket.

To further extend the rivalry between the two schools, the football game is just a small part of the bigger Red Clay Rivalry, which is a yearlong series that includes all of the sports (11) both schools sponsor. 

The Red Clay Rivalry was established in 2021, and a school must win six of the 11 games/series to claim the trophy. Valdosta State won the first year, and West Georgia won last year.

Where Is The University Of West Georgia?

The University of West Georgia is in Carrollton, Georgia, and was established in 1906 as an agricultural and mechanical school. It officially opened in 1908.

In 1933, the Fourth District Agricultural and Mechanical School became a junior college, and the name was changed to West Georgia College.

The school continued to grow and earned senior college status in 1957. In 1996, it was time for university status, thus becoming the State University of West Georgia. In 2005, a voted changed the name one final time to the University of West Georgia. The school offers more than 100 programs and has additional locations in Douglasville and Newnan. 

Until 2006, the school’s mascot/athletic teams were known as the Braves, but a directive from the NCAA to stop using names associated with Native Americans led to a change to the Wolves.

Notable University Of West Georgia Alums

Musical performer Zac Brown, activist Clarice Cross Bagwell, John M. Brown III (former Commander of the United States Army Pacific), ESPN sports anchor Elle Duncan, former UWG men’s basketball coach and athletic director Roger Kaiser, author Adam Selzer and rapper Lil Nas X, along with a variety of professional baseball, basketball and football players.

West Georgia Football Schedule 2023

• Aug. 31: Limestone, 7 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Sept. 9: at Texas A&M-Kingsville, 8 p.m. ET
• Sept. 16: at Mississippi College, 8 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Sept. 23: at West Florida, 7 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Oct. 7: West Alabama, 6 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Oct. 14: Chowan, 6 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Oct. 21: North Greenville, 6 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Oct. 26: at Shorter, 7 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Nov. 4: Delta State, 6 p.m. ET, FloSports
• Nov. 11: at Valdosta State, 7 p.m. ET, Flosports